Shaftesbury Lido

Cold-water swimming 

The Lido is open for cold-water swimming on Saturdays from 6 January 2024.

For further information please go to the Cold Water Swim 2024 page.

Prices

Session Tickets

Adult – £5.50
Child – £4.50
Under 3s – £2.50
Parent & Toddler – £7.00
Aqua Fit – £8.00
Naked Swimming (adults only) – £7.50
Float Party – £80 per hour
Private Hire – £70 per hour

Season Tickets

The 2023 season runs for 14 weeks between Saturday 27 May – Sunday 3 September.

Adult – £140
Child – £110
Family (2 adults and 2 children) – £380

*Season tickets are non-transferable between users and can only be redeemed against lane swims and fun swims.

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Cost per swim

Based on an Adult Season Ticket across the full 14 weeks, these are the indicative costs per swim:

• 5 times a week – £2.00
• 4 times a week – £2.50
• 3 times a week – £3.33

If you are only able to swim for 10 weeks out of the 14 and wondering if you should still buy a season ticket, here is the price per swim.  

• 5 times a week – £2.80
• 4 times a week – £3.50
• 3 times a week – £4.66

We are continually looking at ways to reduce our operating costs so that we can keep admission fees low for users. However, rising energy costs coupled with the scope of maintenance an outdoor pool needs, does mean that we rely on our community to make use of this treasured asset so that we can ensure its future success. 

Sessions

Lane Swim
Designated lane swimming for those regular users seeking to get their laps in.

Fun Swim 
Perfect for our younger swimmers, this session is designed to allow for a more informal swim where the focus is on having fun while exercising or learning to swim.

Aqua Fit (for ages 16+)
Combining aqua aerobic exercises with strenth and conditioning moves to give you a full body workout. A gentle way to get your heart pumping without putting pressure on your joints. All ages and abilities welcome. 

Aqua Fit (Wellness)
These are bespoke sessions for those suffering from specific health conditions and can only be accessed via GP-referral. If you think that you might benefit from this type of water-based exercise, please submit a request to your GP. 

Float Party 
Perfect for celebrating your child’s birthday, our Float Party includes various inflatable play equipment where young ones can have the freedom to have fun and explore. 

Naked Swimming
This adults-only session requires no swimwear! For those who may not have considered this type of swim before, there are many benefits to it. Not only can it help to improve self-esteem but it also gives you a sense of freedom, makes you feel closer to nature and allows your skin to breathe and get that all-important vitamin D. 

Feedback

Your feedback is really important to us and ensures that we are able to continually improve our swimmers’ experience. If you have used the Lido this season, please consider filling out our short questionnaire.

Questionnaire

About

History

The origins of the Lido go back 170 years to the mid-19th Century and are closely associated with securing Shaftesbury’s water supply. It is one of the oldest pools still operational in the country. 

In 1848, John Rutter, a leading social reformer, wrote to the Marquis of Shaftesbury (the effective owner of the town) with suggestions for improvements, including creating a water supply for the poor. 

In 1852, a new water works was completed with two deep wells sunk at Barton Hill and a pumping station, paid for by the Marquis of Westminster. The adjacent tank that was excavated from the solid greenstone to hold cool water for the steam pumps was to become the Shaftesbury open-air swimming pool.

We don’t know the exact date of when the tank was first used for swimming, but Shaftesbury’s first swimming club was formed in 1891 and for much of the 20th century the pool was known as ‘The Tank’. Many older residents have happy memories of learning to swim there. 

Wessex Water still operates from an adjacent facility on the site of the original pumping station. 

The pool today

Shaftesbury Town Council took over the management of the pool in 2016 and has invested in refurbishment works over the past few years to ensure the viability of this much-treasured community asset. It is the only open-air swimming pool in Dorset!

Today, the pool provides residents with a great place to learn to swim, as well as a range of classes, including Parent & Toddler, Aqua Fit and Naked Swimming for the braver souls! We also offer float parties for those special occasions and private hire for school groups. We also welcome enquiries from clubs, organisations and businesses, so if you have a bespoke request, please get in touch.

There is a spectator area for family viewing and refreshments are available to buy from our café. Plus free WiFi. 

Friends of Shaftesbury Swimming (FOSS)

FOSS promotes swimming opportunities in the Shaftesbury area. Their primary focus is to advise and support the Town Council on the sustainable development of Shaftesbury Lido. 

Founded in September 2021, FOSS is a group of regular Lido swimmers who helped establish the Shaftesbury Swimming Advisory Committee (SSAC). The committee consists of four members of the public drawn from FOSS, two councillors and the pool manager. The FOSS committee meets informally with the council on a monthly basis and have been active in influencing many aspects of the marketing and development of the Lido, as well as come up with and support fundraising opportunities.

Contact Us

Lido Reception: 01747 853181

Alternatively, call the Town Hall on 01747 852420 or email: office@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk